DAVISON TOWNSHIP, MI – Officials have temporarily suspended in-home inspections after homeowners said they are concerned they are violating their rights. Township board members said they need more time to review the property assessment process.

View full sizeDavison Township officials have temporarily suspended in-home inspections as part of the property assessment system following concerns from residents about the procedure. MLive.com File Photo

The voluntary in-home inspections started in April 2012. Assessors enter homes to determine if the basement is finished, the number of bathrooms and fireplaces.

Township resident Paul Lukasavitz was one of those packed into a standing-room-only crowd at Davison Township Hall Monday, June 10, to call for a stop to the inspections, based on what he said were his rights under the Fourth amendment.

A committee including Supervisor Kurt Soper, Assessor Kim Nickerson, Attorney David Lattie, board member Matt Karr and three residents has been set up to discuss the issue and provide information on the assessing procedure.

"They are pretty much trying to assist the board members and get up to speed on assessing practices, on what’s required and necessary to come up with a true cash value on the properties,” said Nickerson. “It’s a process of educating.”

A flyer circulating in Lukasavitz’s neighborhood -- including a copy of the letter sent out to residents asking for an appointment time to perform an in-home inspection to verify home interiors -- states, “As citizens of this Twp., we should be outraged that the government, 'our government,' would request this of its people.”

Assessor Kim Nickerson said the inspection process began in April 2012 with 792 residents, or 66 percent of the approximately 1,200 residents who received the letter, allowing home entry.

“Every year, we do something in addition to make the (assessment) cards more accurate,” she said. In her 19 years as assessor, photos of each home are taken, exterior inspections performed and assessment records have been pout on computer. “All that to get (values) as accurate as we can.”

People who do not want an in-home inspection can decline, Nickerson said, but their house value will be based upon an exterior inspection and the value of homes in the neighborhood.

“It’s actually a part, and has always been part, of the assessor’s job. Our job is to determine a true cash value, an assessed value for the property every year,” she said. “You have to know what you’re valuing. An assessor does what an appraiser does with a home. It’s very difficult to do that if you don’t know what’s inside the house.”

Jeff Ford, one of the residents chosen to serve on the committee, said while he's not received a letter, he would not have agreed to a home inspection.

"This is just such an unusual situation. It's got people fire up," he said. "I think it's got people really angry, angry at government."

"There’s two kinds of people coming to my house. Those who I invite and those who have a search warrant. I would have taken my chances with the assessment and go through the appeal process," Ford said. "Bottom line is someone is going to have to come into your house and it's very intimidating. It's kind of a violation of your personal space. I really hope that we can set up a procedure or system for other municipalities to follow."

Catherine Mullhaupt, director of membership information services for the Michigan Township Association, said while in-home inspections “It isn’t the norm” for assessing, it’s not illegal or unusual.

“Most units don’t have the resources and time or staff to do it,” she said.

Stacey Bassi, assessor for Burton, said the city has a similar program to Davison Township's, asking homeowners to allow assessors into homes to get an accurate home value.

“It’s at the homeowner’s discretion if they allow us into the property or not,” she said, with the city evaluating a portion of properties each year as possible. “If they don’t feel comfortable with them in their home, it’s not something I push. I ask them certain questions about the interior of the home. Most times, I believe they are honest with me.”

Carrie Bock, assessor for Genesee Township, previously took part in a reappraisal process in Oakland County’s White Lake Township several years ago.

“It’s part of the job. That’s pretty standard. All the remaining square footage is taken from the outside,” she said.

Mullhaupt said once a property card is updated for a property, “You certainly don’t have to go out and do every property every year,” while going out if something does change at a property.

She noted the valuation of a home may not be entirely accurate based on the outside of the home, adding, “It’s in everybody’s interest in paying their fair share of taxes.”

“It sounds like they are making really good efforts to have accurate records,” said Mullhaupt. “Once you have them in your house, it’s probably going to be a long time before they come back.”

Nickerson said she intended to send out letters to 20 percent of residents each year asking for inspections.

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